Monday, November 30, 2009

The rules are extremely easy...just read 6 books...they can be anything you want...other challenge books, new books, TBR books, etc. You don't have to list them early. If you review your books...post a link in the comment section. Then do a wrap-up post in March. That's all there is to it!!

I love the picture for this challenge, too cute. So, join in on the challenge, relax, and have fun!!

I absolutely LOVE this challenge. The Nancy Drew Challenge is being hosted by Deborah at Books, Movies and Chinese Food. The idea is to read all of the 56 YELLOW hardback books. I used to collect these as a kid - I was so hooked on Nancy drew. I can't wait to revisit my old friends. There are several editions to these first 56 books - but the challenge is to read the yellow spine ones.

Other than the stipulation about the yellow spines...the rules are pretty easy. Challenge runs from 1/1/10 to 12/31/10 and you can skip over the books you've already read as a child. I am going to start from the first book and read/re-read all 56. It sounds like a lot of books, but they are really fast reads. Review and blogs are not required.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Sunset Bay begins with Megan as a young girl of 18 caught up in a world with a doting father, hypochondriac mother, and estranged sister. She experiences her first love and devastating breakup. Always wanting to please her father, she gives up her dream of fashion design and becomes an accountant.

Fast forward 10 years and we see that Megan has the perfect life...handsome cardiologist fiance, the love and approval of her father, and a successful career. However, within a few weeks time, everything comes crashing down around her. And in the midst of all this turmoil, who shows up but her high school love - Travis. Amid the rubble of her life "lies the promise of a future Megan never realized - on that may turn out to contain everything she really needs."

Susan Mallery keeps her audience entertained throughout the entire book with twists and turns you never expect. The pages keep turning because you want to know how Megan will deal with the next crisis. The side stories are engaging and flow smoothly within the book.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I really enjoyed working on this one in 08/09 and look forward to working on it again for 09/10.

The Countdown Challenge is being hosted by Michelle and runs from 09/09/09 to 10/10/10. The rules are simple...read the number of books first published in a given year that corresponds to the last digit of each year in the 2000s — 10 books from 2010, 9 books from 2009, 8 books from 2008, etc. until 2001. The total number of books required, therefore, is 55.

You don't need to make your list ahead of time...and it can change throughout the challenge. I am a little late signing up for this one...but I've kept a list of books that I have read, so I can go back through September and fill in those that count.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

I am going to be joining the A to Z Challenge again next year. It is being hosted by Becky again and here is the sign-up post.

I think I'll be able to complete the challenge next year because she is being very lenient on the hard to find letters. Here is what she says:

How strict is the 26 or 52? I know it isn't always easy to find those difficult letters. The thought of finding the X's (for example) might scare folks away. It shouldn't! I'm a merciful host! (Ask anyone!)

If you want to give the X's a go... For authors, try to find an X in the first name, middle name, or last name. For titles, it doesn't have to be the starting word. Try to find an X somewhere in a title, and it'd count in my book.

So don't let those letters scare you away - it is doable!!

There are 3 levels to choose from:

Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.

Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.

Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books

I like committing to 52 books and seeing if I can complete both titles and authors.

1) Pick a couple series you already started and now want to finish (meaning, you'll be all up to date with the series when it ends).

2) Read at least 4 books, more are also okay, of course!

3) Crossovers with other challenges are always okay.

4) Post your review of the books on your blog or in the comment section, no matter how long. If you post the review on your blog, please post a link to the review in the comment section so that everyone else can check out your review.

5) Have fun!

So there you have it...pull out those series that you've been wanting to finish and join in the challenge!!

Monday, November 23, 2009

I love reading new to me authors and adding them to my ever-growing list. Finding new authors and discovering their backlists is like opening a treasure box!!

So I am joining this challenge for next year. The rules are pretty easy. Find an author you've never tried before...however, only a third of your authors can be from anthologies. You can pick 15, 25 or 50 authors depending on how adventurous you are. But don't take my word for it - you can read all about the challenge over at Literary Escapism.

A new year to celebrate some of my favorite authors!! Becky is hosting "Celebrate the Author" challenge again in 2010.

Here are the rules (copied from her post):

The challenge is designed to “celebrate” author birthdays. Choose one author for each month of the year. Read at least one book a month. 12 authors. 12 birthdays. If you like, you can read MORE than that. Read the books IN ANY ORDER YOU LIKE. As long as you've got one book representing an author birthday from each month of the year by the end, then you're good.

I didn't do this challenge last year, but after reading the sub-genre list, I realized that I had read more Thriller and Suspense books than I imagined. So, I am going to join this challenge next year.

It is being hosted by Book Chick City, and here is the sign-up post. You only have to read 12 books and the list of sub-genres is extensive. She gives a detailed description of each genre at this post. So, go on a "thrill" ride in 2010 and sign-up today!!

I love going to our local library and checking out books. The kids and I go about once every two weeks and browse, play games on the computer, and check out books and movies. So I just have to join the Support Your Local Library Challenge!! In these tough times, I don't know what I would do without the ability to read my favorite books - and the library gives me that opportunity.

There are different levels to this challenge:

--The Mini – Check out and read 25 library books.

--Just My Size – Check out and read 50 library books.

--Stepping It Up – Check out and read 75 library books.

--Super Size Me – Check out and read 100 library books.

This one is also being hosted by our esteemed J-Kaye and here is the sign-up post. Once again, you don't need to post reviews or even need a blog. Anyone can participate.

I am going for the "Just My Size" which is 50 books. That way I can still grab some from my TBR pile at home.

Once again I am going to try and read 100 books for the year 2010. J-Kaye has graciously decided to host this challenge again next year, and I am really looking forward to participating and reaching my goal.

The rules are simple...read 100 or more books in the year 2010. You don't have to review them, you don't even need a blog. Anyone can join. Audio, eBooks, YA, Young Reader, Nonfiction, Fiction, etc. all count. Crossovers with other challenges are fine. And the best part, you don't have to list your books in advance!!!! Here is the sign-up post.

I think I am going to try and stay away from challenges that require you to make a list of books prior to starting the challenge. This locks me in to reading certain books, and I am a reader that "flys by the seat of my pants" and chooses books by what ever mood I am in at the time.

After months of being over-committed with family issues, health issues, and a HUGE reading slump, I am finally back in the swing of things!!! My reading has picked up, I'm feeling better, and family life has settled down a bit.

I am giving up on the challenges this year...just concentrating on enjoying my reading without having to meet any deadlines. But that isn't stopping me from gearing up for next year's challenges. I am going to start posting about the upcoming events and sign up for them. I don't think I am going to join as many as I did last year, but you never know - LOL!!!

Thank you so much for remaining followers through my madness!! I promise that reviews will start back again soon!!!